Charles links



March 25, 1924. 1,488,357

\ C. LINKE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BURNING LIQUID FUEL Filed'Maron '28, 1922 3 sheets-sheen I il Q11?) T FH12. i Q13 l 9 f! 11? N- 9 \\\\y a I a Y /o o 7&2/ e le 1 o 3 /2 7 j `g``7 F||3.1- 2 "4 2 fff J l l 3 /N VEN TOE WTNESSES March 25 1924. v

c. LINK METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BURNING LIQUID FUEL Sheets-Sheet 5 FIEJLB. f faz/f m zf, 4

Filed'March 28, 1922 El I3 .'7. HlillHUIIHIHIIIIHIIIIIHIIIII|llIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHNIIHUIIIIlllllllillllll @DDD is desired.

Patented Mar. 25, 1924. i

UNITED STATES CHARLES LINKE., OF PARIS, FRANCE.

` METHOD OF'AND APPARATUS FOR BURNING LIQUID FUEL.

Application led March 28, 1922.

T 0 all iti/wm it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES LINK, residing at Paris, France, al citizen of the French Republic, have invented or vdiscovered certain new and useful Improve ments in Methods of and Apparatus for Burning Liquid Fuel, of which improvements the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the combustion of liquid fuel, petroleum for example, and consists both in method of combustion and in apparatus by which combustion is effected, that isto say, in burner construction. The objectin view is to gain from the fuel and make available to service a maximum quantity of heat. j

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in vertical section of a burner structure in which and in the operation of which my invention is realized. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of this burner structure, seen from above. In this figure one of the limiting walls of the combustion chamber appears in horizontal section. Fig. B is a view in vertical section, on a plane at right angles to that of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is again a plan view from above, showing but half of the structure, but indicating features not fully shown in Fig. 2.

Fi g. 5 is a view in cross-section, illustratingv a detail of assembly; the plane of section is indicated in Fig. 3 by the dotted line TxT-V. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, illustrating a preferred arrangement of a manually-operable regu later. Figs. 7 and 8 are views 1n elevation and to larger scale of certain brushesl which enter into the organization. Figs. 8)13 are diagrammatic, and serve to indicate the principle involved in the generation of the flame, with varying arrangements of the air supply.

lily invention, broadly stated, consists in projecting fluid fuel in the form of an attenuated sheet, and in causing converging streams of air or equivalent flame-nourishing to pick up the fuel so spread out and in so picking it up to mingle intimately with it, forming immediately a mixture which, because of intimacy, of union, burns at once and releases the heat where release Incidentally, I so construct my burnerthat, under the heat of the flame,

Serial No. 547,424.

the passages through which the fuel and the air approach the line of union are them# selves highly heated. `"ln consequence, the converging streams become heated, the fuel, initially Huid, isl vaporized, or at least brought near to the condition of vapor, the act of mixing is facilitated, and combustion proceeds immediately.

The projection'of the fuel in the form of an attenuated sheet may conveniently be accomplished by means of a vrotating disk. The disk dips on one side into a pool of the liquid fuel and from the other side the liquid flies from the disk in response to centrifugal force. Referring to Figs. l and 3 of the drawings, a shaft l carried in bearings 2, is rotatable by suitable means,

as for example a pulley 3. Mounted integrally on the shaft is a disk 4, which dips into a pool P of liquid fuel maintained in the bottom of a chamber 6, encasing the disk. The preferred arrangement is that shown; the shaft extends horizontally and the disk stands in vertical position, and at the lowest portion of its periphery dips into the pool of liquid fuel. The effect of rotation of the disk is to project from its upper rim an attenuated sheet, .a curtain offluid fuel. This curtain may conceivably be physically. continuous, and what the minute character of the curtain in this respect may be will depend somewhat on the character and quality of theparticular materialv employed as fuel, but practically it consists of very iinelydividcd particles. The fuel is in fact atomized. In Fig. 3 an varrow below indicates the direction of disk rotation, while the f arrows above indicate the substantially tangential lines in which the fuel is projected and incidentally the consequent spread ofthe projected curtain of material.

It will ordinarily be found desirable that the liquid in pool P be maintained at constant level. To that end, a. float valve may control the supply. A convenient arrangement is that shown; a tank 17 is provided, connected to casing 6 through a pipe 1,8, so that liquid may rise to the same level in both casing and tank, and in this tank 17 ,the float of the float valve may be arranged. Casing 6 may be provided further with a drain pipe 19.

The disk will ordinarily be thin, smooth (i il surfaced, and knife-edged, as shown, and provision will be made to reoulate the quantity of liquid carried by and slung from the disk. Such regulating provision is found in the brushes lta-nd l5 (cf. Figs. 3, 5, 7 and The brushes may be offine wire 26 set in bodies or carriers 25. Two brushes 14 sweep the faces of the disk. rlhey extend radially of the disk, or substantially so, and, viewed transversely (Fig. 5), they are inclined toward the disk in the direction of disk motion. They conveniently arranged. opposite one another, and they are stationed above but near the place of emergence of the disk from pool l), and near and somewhat below the hori..;. fel d' eter of the disk. They are carried on ai is which extend through the wall of the casing, and they may from the outside be nicely adjusted. They will not ordinarily bear upon the disk surfaces, but they will be so spaced as to sweep from the disk all surplus liquid, beyond the quantity required for proper operation. Brush 15 wipes the edge of the disk (the brush being fiexible conforms to the shape of the edge), and lrush l5 is accessible for adjustment through an opening 16 in the casing' wall. A swinging door may close this opening' while .he apparatus is in operation.

lt is manifest that, as the disk coated with a film of liquid rotates, the liquid, acquiring momentum from the disk, accumulates atthe periphery, and is thence slung off' along substantially tangential lines; and it is manifest that, in the arrangen'ient illustrated, the effect of the forces acting` upon the liquid is to cause the throwing off of the attenuated curtain of liquid chiefly from the ascending upper quadrant, that is the upper left-hand quadrant, as seen in Fig.

An opening in the upper wall 2l of the casing provides for the projection vertically upward from the casing of such an attenuated curtain of fuel. rlhis opening extends from a point substantially in vertical line above the extreme edge of the disk on the left (Fig. 3) in left to right direction. Vifithin the casing a shield 20 carries back to the pool any liquid that may be thrown from the disk later in the course of rotation. Brush 'l5 and shield 20 so placed that the projected curtain of fuel does not impinge upon either end of the wide-open slot.

. rii"he effective extent of the slot in casing wall 21. may be controlled by a stepped shield 13. rThis shield is in form partial cylindrical shell. pivoted on the cylindrical axis and adapted to be adjusted manually. As shown in the drawings this shield is wholly withdrawn and out of the way, and the slot in the casing is free throughout its length. But comparison of Figs. l and 3 will show that as this shield is swung (anticlockwi'se, Fig. l) the effective lengthy of the slot will be diminished step by step, from left to right as seen in Fig. A stop 27 may be provided to prevent reduction of the effective length of this slot beyond a minimum necessary to maintain combustion.

Two converging streams of air entrain between them the attenuated curtain of fuel projected from casing 6. These streams of air are projected each through a line of orifices. hixing takes place at once, and combustion immediately follows. The orifices of the two lines may be` set in opposite succession, as shown in Figs. 2 and 9, or in the staggered arrangement shown in Fig. 10. In the one case the impact of the opposite jets of air is direct, and the effect` is a relatively tall and slender flame; in the other case there is an interlacing of the air jets and the flame is shorter and broader. This is indicated by the arrows in the drawings. rThe orices through which the jets of air are delivered may extend in lines perpendicular to the line of meeting, as in Figs. 2, Il, 9, 10, and 12, or in lines oblique to the line of meeting, as in Figs. 11 and 13, and, as will be apparent, such Obliquity may be in ,one direction at one end of the line and in opposite direction at the other end of the line. These and other such variations in the formation and assembly of the air orifices may be adopted, with corresponding modification in the shape of the flame. Variability in the shape of the flame adapts the invention to service conditions of different sorts. Y

l preferably form the air orifices as outwardly tapering orifices 11 in tuyre blocks 9, which tuyre blocks 9 when set side by side form a continuous air header chamber 8. From chambers 8 the orifices 11 lead. The opposite lines of orifices 1l are preferably oppositely and equally inclined to the vertical as best shown in Fig.` 1. T he tuyere blocks 9 are so shaped that when assembled in opposite lines the two lines form between them a continuous upwardly tapering passageway 10. The casing 6 with its contained disk is arranged beneath the double line of tuyrcs, with the slot in the upper wall 0f the casing exactly in line beneath passageway 10, so that the curtain of fuel projected in vertical. plane from casing 6 shall be projected through passageways 10 toward the meeting line of the two converging streams of air (each air stream compounded of a line of jets).

The tuyere blocks are formed preferably of refractory material, such as fire brick, and constitute part of the fioor of the combustion chamber, as .is clearly apparent in Figs. 1 and 2. The iame springs from Jthe line of union and of mixing of fuel and air, and the effect of burning is that these tuyre blocks become highly heated. This is advantageous for the entering Streams 0f ail.' and of fuel are heated as they approach the line of meeting and mixture and combustion are in consequence accelerated. The fuel in attenuated form being so heated approaches or passes beyond the point of vaporizing, and thus lends itself with greater facility to mixture and combustion.

The tuyre blocks are so particularly.

shaped that when the assembly is made the passageway increases in length from its lower end toward its upper, as is shown in Fig. 3. Thus the free spread of the projected curtain is provided for.

The air is projected from orifices 11 under pressure, and, while the arrangement is not necessarily such, I find it convenient to drive the streams of air by instrumentalities deriving their power from the same rotating shaft 1 which drives disk 4. To this end two fans 5 are mounted on shaft 1, one on either side of casing 6. These fans, taking in air through their heads deliver the air at their peripheries, and drive it in streams through uptake passageways 7 which feed the air header chambers 8 in the two lines of tuyre blocks 9.

Vith such an arrangement the casing 6 may be kept secure against the entrance of air, for at the points s, where the shaft 1 passes through the casing walls the fans exert suction, and, instead of allowing ingress of air, to the extent that opportunity for leakage exists, the flow is of fuel vapor outward,not of air inward. The presence of small quantities of fuel vapor in the streams of air is in no degree objectionable. There can therefore be no back fire within casing 6. 1

Dampers 12 may be provided in air uptake passageways 7, and these dampers, like shield 13 may be in the form of partial cylindrical shells rotatable on their cylindrical axes. The two dampers may be provided with means for shifting them by hand; they may be interconnected, to be shifted in unison; and they may further be interconnected with shield 13, so that proportionately as the quantity of fuel delivered to the place of combustion is diminished, the quantity of air delivered may be proportionately diminished. Such interconnection is indicated in Fig. 6. Cranks 22 extend from the axles of the cylindrical dampers 12 and crank 23 extends from the axle of cylindrical shield 13. These cranks are interconnected by links 24, and the whole may be shifted as a unit by the handle which crank 23 carries. A projecting index travelling over a dial may serve to indicate the degree of opening of the stepped shield 13 and of the correspondingly moving dampers. The linked connection admits, of course, of adjustment.

It will be understood that the burner now described is so related to other apparatus as to supply heat to useful ends. Ordinarily the space above into which slot 9 and ducts 11 discharge is the combustion chamber of a furnace of one sort or another.

The burner is operated by rotation of shaft 1. As it rotates an attenuated curtain of fuel is projected vertically upward from casing 6 through passageway 10 toward the line of impact of the convergent streams of air which at the same time are projected through the two lines of orifices 11. The ascendingfuel entering the heated region between the tuyre blocks 9is, in addition to being already drawn out into attenuated form, further prepared for combustion by being elevated in temperature toward or beyond its point of vaporization. The air also is by heating prepared for combustion. It is further prepared for intimate mingling by the form given to the two streams by virture of passage each through a line of orifices. These two streams so projected are not of uniform intensity throughout the breadth of the stream, but points of greater intensity alternate with points of less. This is effected by projecting the streams of air in opposite series of jets. The upwardlydirected convergent streams of air have a suction effect, cooperating with or superadded to the initial propelling force which drives the fuel and readily draw or entrain the fuel between them. The air and the fuel so brought together mingle intimately, and the mixture burns with great rapidity, delivering up at the desired place relatively large quantities of heat.

Manifestly increase of speed of rotation (with adjustment if necessary of brushes 14- and means increased delivery both of fuel and of air to the combustion chamber, with consequent release of increased quantities of heat.

I have mentioned petroleum as suitable fuel; lighter oils, petroleum derivatives and other oils may be used; heavier oils too may be used. If normally too viscid, the oil used may be rendered more fluid by preheating. Ordinarily air will be used to effect combustion, but in exceptional circumstances other combustion-sustaining gas may be employed, -pure oxygen, for instance. YWhen in the ensuing claims I speak of liquid fuel and of air, I desire to be understood as contemplating all the range of substances here alluded to.

In its broader aspects the invention is not limited to the details here presented by way of example.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method herein described of burning liquid fuel which consists in projecting against gravity and into the line of meeting of convergent streams of combustion-sustaining air an attenuated curtain of fuel.

2. The method herein described of burning liquid fuel which consists in projecting against gravity and into the line of meeting of convergent streams of combustion-sustaining air an attenuated curtain of fuel, and heating the fuel as it is projected.

3. rIhe method herein described of burning liquid fuel which consists in projecting under centrifugal force and into the line of meeting -of convergent streams of combustion-sustaining air an attenuated curtain of fuel.

4. rlhe method herein described of burning liquid fuel which consists in projecting to the line of meeting of convergent series of jets of air an attenuated curtain of fuel, whereby a combustible mixture of said components is formed.

5. In a fluid fuel burner means for slinging centrifugally an attenuated curtain of fuel, and means for maintaining streams of air convergent from opposite sides upon the curtain of fuel so projected.

6. In a fluid fuel burner a combustion chamber through whose floor is formed a vertically disposed passageway, means for slinging centrifugally an attenuated curtain of fuel vertically through said passageway and into said combustion chamber, means for maintaining streams of air convergent from opposite sides upon the curtain of fuel so projected.

7. In a fiuid fuel burner means for slinging centrifugally and against gravity an attenuated curtain of fuel, and means for maintaining upwardly directed streams of air convergent from opposite sides upon the curtain of fuel so projected.

8. In a burner for liquid fuel the combination of means foi,` projecting the fuel against gravity in the form of an attenuated curtain and means for projecting convergent streams of air on either side of such curtain, substantially as described.

9. In a burner for liquid fuel the combinationof a vertically slotted body of refractory and heat-radiating material, means for projecting an attenuated curtain of fuel upward through that slot and means for projecting from either side convergent streams of air into the path of the fuel beyond the slot, substantially as described.

10. In a burner foi-liquid fuel the combination of a receptacle, a rotatable disk arranged to dip into a pool of liquid maintained in said receptacle` means for regulating the amount of liquid carried on the surface of said disk, and means for maintaining a stream of flame-nourishing air, the means last named and the disk being so relatively placed that fluid slung centrifugally from the perimeter of the disk is slung into the air stream.

11. In a burner for liquid fuel the combination of a receptacle, a rotatable disk arranged to dip into a pool of liquid maintained in s aid receptacle, means for removing from the surfaceV of the disk superfluous quantities of fuel and means for maintaining a stream of flame-nourishing air into which fuel from the rim of the disk is on rotation of the disk centrifugally slung.

12. In a burner for liquid fuel the combination of a fuel receptacle, a disk mounted in vertical position fer rotation and arranged to dip at its lower margin into a pool of fuel `maintained. in said receptacle, and means for directing upwardly converging streams of air from opposite sides into the Yplane in which the disk extends and to a line of meeting above the upper margin of the disk, substantially as described.

13. vIn a. burner for liquid fuel the combination of two converging rows of oppositely inclined air ports. means for projecting jets of air through such ports, and means for projecting` an attenuated curtain of fuel into the angle formed by and between tie air jets, substantially as described.

14. In a burner for liquid fuel the combination of a slot, means for projecting through said slot an attenuated curtain of fuel, means for varying the effective length of the slot, and means for aerating the fuel 'beyond said slot.

15. In a burner for liquid fuel the combination of a casing having in its lower part a receptacle for liquid fuel, and in its upper part a delivery slot, a rotary shaft extending through andjbeycnd the casing, a disk borne integrally 'by the shaft and arranged within the casing, and adapted to dip into a pool ofl liquid fuel contained therein, and on rotation to impel an attenuated curtain of fuel through said slot, a fan' wheel borne integrally by the shaftand arranged externally of the casing, and an air passageway j and an orifice through which air is caused to flow on rotation of said fan wheel..

16. In a burner for liquid fuel the combination of a casing, va rotary shaft e1;- tending horizontally through and beyond the casing, a rotary disk borne integrally by said shaft and arranged vertically within the casing, fan wheels with central intake eyes arranged, one on either side and externally of and adjacent to said casing and borne integrally by said shaft. said casing forming in its lower part a receptacle for a pool of liquid fuel into which said disk is arranged to dip, a slot in said casing above and in line with the plane of disk extent, air passageways leading upward from said fans and terminating in orifices through which on rotation of the shaft convergent streams of air are driven to a meeting point above and in the plane in which said disk entends, substantially as described. j

17. In aburner for liquid fuel thelcom- 'bination of a casing having in its lower part a receptacle for liquid fuel and in its 4upper part a delivery slot, a rotary disk arranged Within the casing, adapted to dip into a pool of liquid fuel contained therein and on rotation to impel an attenuated curtain oi fuel through said slot, an air passageway arranged to deliver air to the fuel iinpelled through said slot, means for Varying the effective length of said slot, and a damper in said air passageway, said damper and said means for Varying the effective extent of the slot being articulated together and movable in unison, substantially as described.

18. In a burner for liquid fuel the combination of a rotary disk, means for maintaining a pool of liquid fuel into which the disk in the range of its rotation may dip, brushes arranged adjacent said disk after emergence from such pool, and means for maintaining convergent streams of air adjacent said disk, substantially as described.

.ln testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES LNK.

`Witnesses E. C. KIRMAN, O. BARTHOLOMEW, Jr. 

